Instagram makeup is so divisive! I had no idea. When I got an IG makeup makeover, I had the best time, but I got some very mixed reactions from friends, family and colleagues.

NYX beauty advisor and professional makeup artist, Nikki Wong Jing suggested we do All. The. Trends. From strobing to contouring to lip filling, smoky eyes, and so, so much more. As somewhat of a basic girl, on a standard day (or night out, even), I wear concealer, eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara and lipstick. I have fun with makeup, but within my own limits. As a challenge for myself, and for Nikki, we went for it.

We had the best time! Between laughs, Kardashian gossip and multiple pauses to appreciate my makeover, I learned so much about technique. The power of makeup to change the look of a face isn’t just impressive, it’s magical. Nikki showed me how to make my nose look cute, how to sharpen my cheekbones, get a duck-face pucker, make my eyes pop and even elongate my neck (yes we contoured my neck).

Reactions, however, were mixed. If you love makeup, you’d appreciate the halo smokey eye (!!!!). I was told “I can’t look away,” and “your eyes look so intense,” from a couple of friends. The makeup feeds the camera, and IRL it’s a lot of makeup, even by Nikki’s standards. I was also told by one person, “You look scary,” and “You look straight out of a horror movie.” Not the look we were going for, but it beautifully illustrates how makeup can affect people. Even British makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes got in on the editorial vs. Instagram aesthetic. My take, even after piling on the makeup? It’s makeup. Why are people so serious about it? It just washes off.

It is a lot of makeup – it took two hours to do. Do beauty Instagrammers do this every day? Even on days when they’re not taking selfies? No, no they don’t, Nikki tells me. He suggests they do it just for the post. But a trip to the mall tells me otherwise.